Paspalum bonairense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 40–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes black; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; keeled; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 30–40 cm long; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Racemes 4; borne along a central axis; unilateral. Rhachis angular; scabrous on margins.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; angular; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; plano-convex; acute; 2.5 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; with obscure midvein; glabrous; truncate. Fertile lemma ovate; 2 mm long; indurate; pallid; without keel. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: Caribbean.

NOTES Paniceae. Henrard 2002.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.